Atlético to earn €3 million from summer friendlies

According to Spanish paper AS, the squad will visit Miami, Costa Rica and Venezuela

Another big trip planned for Atlético this summer (clubatleticodemadrid.com)

It has only been one day since Atlético departed Colombia, but AS reports on Thursday that los Rojiblancos will visit the Americas a second time this summer, with stops said to be planned in Miami (USA), Costa Rica and Venezuela.

After raking in €1.2 million from their trio of friendlies in the land of Carlos ‘El Pibe’ Valderrama, the upcoming three-country tour will reportedly net the club a grand total of approximately €3 million in match fees.

It is also said that sales of Atleti jerseys in Colombia now rival those of our La Liga-winning nemeses, possibly thanks to native son Luis Amaranto Perea, and perhaps even because of that other guy, Ra-da something-or-other.

All jesting aside, we experienced the phenomenon of what AS deems Falcaomanía in ‘El Tigre’s’ country of birth in the flesh, as the striker’s spectacular 36-goal first season with los Colchoneros – including a collection of sensational strikes throughout the final weeks of the 2011/12 campaign and into the post-season friendlies – has afforded Falcao god-like status there.

Colombian sporting goods stores now proudly display our beautiful shirt (often, if not always, a knock-off version of the red and white stripes) at their storefront windows, with Real Madrid and Barcelona kits, for once, taking a back seat.

So, who will be joining AtléticoFans‘ Miami division this summer to catch our men in action?